.png?sfvrsn=6d0e27cd_1 "Partnership for Change - v7 (1)")
Last week, the African Union’s Specialized Technical Committee on Finance and Monetary Affairs met to confront a critical challenge: how to sustain and expand health financing in a time of reduced donor funding. Chaired by leaders from the AU Commission on Economic Affairs, the gathering underscored a crucial truth: Africa’s future depends on making health a fiscal priority.
Africa accounts for about 17% of the world’s population, but it shoulders a far greater share of global maternal and child mortality. Despite progress, inadequate health financing remains a persistent barrier. While African Union member states have pledged to prioritize health, real-world spending has not kept pace with the need. Today, multiple crises—ranging from economic shocks to donor cutbacks—make investing in health more urgent than ever.
At the meeting, experts highlighted that you cannot separate health financing from broader fiscal reforms. The first step is robust domestic resource mobilization. African nations must improve tax collection and close loopholes that allow illicit financial flows to drain away vital funds. It is also essential to manage debt wisely, ensuring that borrowing translates into tangible health gains.
But raising money is only half the story. The committee stressed that the health sector must advocate for its share by demonstrating that health is not just a cost but a productive investment. Ministries of Health need to speak with one voice to Ministries of Finance, making the case that a healthy population drives economic growth. They must also improve efficiency and accountability so that every dollar spent on health truly counts.
See the outcomes of the meeting here: